Narciso Rodriguez

Narciso Rodriguez's appeal lies in the restraint of his designs and in the luxurious, quiet materials he employs, and his Spring collection of well-cut, understated everyday basics was no exception. A sleeveless washed suede dress, for example, looked as if it could be worn straight out of bed; cotton poplin jackets with wide sleeves over shorts looked casual and relaxed; airy, masculine white shirts looked great with pleated trousers or a silver beaded skirt for extra lift. Other standouts included a coral silk crepe dress with a partial gather at the waistline, a double-face khaki silk trench, and a white leather and sequin off-the-shoulder top.

Although the collection was perfectly chic and wearable, one can't help but wish that Rodriguez would take a leap and use his considerable talent to experiment with more adventurous ideas.